Colombians(kəˈləmbēə) Have For years Grown Amazing(əˈmāziNG) Coffee. Finally, They’re Drinking It

By Anthony Faiola

Bogota, Colombia — Not so long ago, Cesar Parra’s world changed with a cup of coffee — a freshly(ˈfreSHlē) brewed(bro͞o), richly aromatic(ˌarəˈmatik) ambrosia(amˈbrōZH(ē)ə) served at one of this nation’s fast-multiplying(ˈməltəplē,ˈməltəˌplī) quality(ˈkwälətē) cafes(kaˈfā,kə-).

“It came as a shock(SHäk), having a good cup,” said Parra, 47, a late-to-the-game coffee lover who spoke on the sidelines of a master class for baristas(bəˈrēstə). “I was born and raised(rāzd) in Colombia. And all my life, I’d been drinking bad coffee.”

For decades(ˈdekād), this South American nation harbored(ˈhärbər) a dirty(ˈdərtē) little secret(ˈsēkrit). In the land of Juan Valdez and his mule(myo͞ol), Conchita — the fictional(ˈfikSHənl) characters(ˈkariktər) from advertisements(ədˈvərtiz-,ˈadvərˌtīzmənt) who have hooked the world on rich mugs(məg) of Colombian coffee since the 1950s — it was nearly impossible to get a good cup of Joe.

The reasons are well established(iˈstabliSHt). The finest arabica(əˈrabikə) beans from Colombia’s emerald(ˈem(ə)rəld) hills were mostly exported, leaving domestic(dəˈmestik) coffee consumers to drink the proverbial(prəˈvərbēəl) dregs(dregz). Some of the coffee consumed locally actually came from cheap imports from as far away as Vietnam(-ˈnam,vēˌetˈnäm,ˌvyet-,ˌvēət-). Then there’s the way filtered coffee is prepared here. The most popular style is tinto — a weak and watery(ˈwä-,ˈwôtərē) concoction(kənˈkäkSHən) with a shelf(SHelf) life rivaling(ˈrīvəl) Spam.

….
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/colombians-have-for-years-grown-amazing-coffee-finally-theyre-drinking-it/2017/10/22/7de94d2a-9255-11e7-8482-8dc9a7af29f9_story.html

Lego(ˈlegō): Our Positive(ˈpäztiv,ˈpäzətiv) Impact Promise(ˈpräməs)

All children have the right to fun, creative and engaging(enˈgājiNG) play experiences(ikˈspi(ə)rēəns). Play is essential(iˈsenCHəl) because when children play, they learn. As a provider of play experiences, we must ensure that our behaviour and actions are responsible towards all children and towards our stakeholders(ˈstākˌhōldər), society(səˈsīətē) and the environment(-ˈvī(ə)rn-,enˈvīrənmənt). We are committed to continue earning the trust our stakeholders place in us, and we are always inspired(inˈspīrd) by children to be the best we can be.

Innovate(ˈinəˌvāt) for children

We aim to inspire(inˈspīr) children through our unique(yo͞oˈnēk) playful learning experiences and to play an active role in making a global(ˈglōbəl) difference on product safety while being dedicated(ˈdediˌkātid) promoters(prəˈmōtər) of responsibility towards children.

Environmental leadership

We want to create positive impact on society, and an important part of this ambition(amˈbiSHən) is to reduce our environmental impact. We want to address climate(ˈklīmit) change by reducing our emissions(iˈmiSHən) through improving our energy(ˈenərjē) efficiency(iˈfiSHənsē), and we want to source and use resources responsibly and to improve our waste management. This is to ensure we do not consume resources and materials(məˈti(ə)rēəl) at a faster rate(rāt) than they are regenerated, so that future generations can also benefit(ˈbenəfit) from the same variety(vəˈrīətē) of resources and materials our generation has access to.

Caring(ˈke(ə)riNG), ethical(ˈeTHikəl) and transparent(-ˈspar-,tranˈspe(ə)rənt)

In our daily(ˈdālē) work we strive(strīv) to uphold(ˌəpˈhōld) the highest ethical business standards and business practices, with respect for human and labour rights, while doing everything we can to promote and protect our employees’ well-being and safety. We will never sacrifice(ˈsakrəˌfīs) our values or purpose for the sake(sāk,ˈsäkē) of short-term profit.

https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/responsibility

Each U.S. Family Trashes(traSH) 400 iPhones’ Worth of E-Waste(wāst) a Year

A new report warns(wôrn) of billions of dollars lost around the world as countries fail to recycle(rēˈsīkəl) a growing glut(glət) of electronics(ilekˈträniks,ˌēlek-) waste.

By Stephen(ˈstēvən) Leahy(lāhē)

Imagine(iˈmajən) a 176-pound (80 kilogram(ˈkiləˌgram)) pile(pīl) of discarded products with a battery or plug(pləg) in your living room. That’s how much e-waste the average(ˈav(ə)rij) American household of four throws out every year.

Around the world, as incomes rise(rīz) and prices(prīs) fall, the yearly e-waste mountain is growing, reaching 44.7 million metric(ˈmetrik) tonnes (Mt) in 2016, according to the latest data available(əˈvāləbəl), released(riˈlēs) Wednesday(-dē,ˈwenzdā). That includes old refrigerators(riˈfrijəˌrātər), television(ˈteləˌviZHən) sets, vacuum(-yəm,ˈvakˌyo͞o(ə)m) cleaners, hair dryers(ˈdrīər), mobile phones, computers, and much more. That amount would fill 1.23 million 18-wheel (40-ton) trucks(trək)—put them nose(nōz) to tail and they form a line from New York to Bangkok(baNGˈkäk,ˈbaNGˌkäk) and back.

This e-waste mountain is expected to grow another 17 percent by 2021 to 52.2 million metric tonnes. This makes it the fastest growing part of the world’s domestic(dəˈmestik) waste stream, according to “The Global E-waste Monitor 2017,“ which published Wednesday. The Monitor is a collaborative(kəˈlabərətiv) effort of the United(yo͞oˈnītid) Nations(ˈnāSHən) University (UNU), the International Telecommunication(ˌteləkəˌmyo͞oniˈkāSHən) Union(ˈyo͞onyən), and the International Solid(ˈsälid) Waste Association(-SHē-,əˌsōsēˈāSHən).

…
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/e-waste-monitor-report-glut/

The Little Trick(trik) to Make Any Moment Better

By Leo(ˈlēō) Babauta

I learned a little trick while practicing meditation(ˌmedəˈtāSHən) that helped me, not only with meditation, but with just about everything I do.

I noticed I was reluctant(riˈləktənt) to start the meditation, and paused to wonder why that is. What I noticed was a kind of tightness(tīt), in my chest(CHest) and shoulders(ˈSHōldər) and neck(nek), but also in my mind. Something about the meditation was causing me to tighten up, and that made me not want to do it each morning.

Well, there are a few choices here: 1) I could stop doing the meditation because I wasn’t enjoying it; 2) I could push myself through it even though I disliked it, or 3) I could let go of the tightness.

I chose to let go of the tightness.

It was amazing. I just noticed where the tightness was, and let it dissipate(ˈdisəˌpāt) into the air. What was left was a more relaxed(riˈlakst) body, a relaxed mindset. And actually it was the relaxed mindset that ended up being most important. I could now approach(əˈprōCH) the meditation with a looseness, a sense(sens) of exploration(ˌekspləˈrāSHən) and happiness(ˈhapēnis), that I couldn’t do when I was tight. And then I smiled, and things got even better.

Then I started applying(əˈplī) that to everything I did: if I was writing and noticed tightness, I let go of the tightness and smiled — and the writing became instantly(ˈinstəntlē) more enjoyable(enˈjoi-əbəl). Same for running, for meeting someone new, for cooking and washing(ˈwäSHiNG,ˈwôSH-) and going to the store.

Every moment became instantly better.

…
https://zenhabits.net/poof/

FAMILY

FAMILY

INT: A CLOTHING(ˈklōT͟HiNG) STORE INSIDE A MALL.

Martha is taking her daughter(ˈdä-,ˈdôtər)-in-law(lô), Chloe(klôē), on a shopping trip before Christmas(ˈkrisməs).

MARTHA

Oh, Chloe, would you look at this window display? Yes, let’s go in here. Isn’t this lovely? Oh my, I love the holiday seasons. Look at that display, dear, with the reindeer(ˈrānˌdi(ə)r)? This is perfect. I’ll find something for Mark and you can help me figure(ˈfigyər) out what he likes nowadays(ˈnouəˌdāz). It’s so hard to shop for a son that I never see! When are the two of you going to move closer to home? Baltimore(ˈbôlt(ə)mər,ˈbôltəˌmôr) is on the other side of the country and it’s so unsafe, you know? I worry about you both, I really(ˈrē(ə)lē) do. There’s crime(krīm) and the weather is just horrid(ˈhär-,ˈhôrid) and there are a lot of…well, you know. Undesirable(ˌəndiˈzīrəbəl) types. Gang members and all that.

(Plucks(plək) a dress(dres) off the rack(rak) and holds it up to Chloe’s chest(CHest).)

Ooh, would you look at this dress? What a gorgeous(ˈgôrjəs) color on you, don’t you think? Look at that-right off the rack and I’ll bet(bet) you it’s just your size. Unless you think you might be getting a little bigger in this area(ˈe(ə)rēə) in the next few months?

(Gestures(ˈjesCHər) at Chloe’s abdomen(abˈdōmən,ˈabdəmən). Chloe gives her a look and

Martha holds up her hands.)

I’m not pushing, I’m not pushing! But really, dear, you’ve been married for almost three years and I’m not going to be around that much longer. A woman needs to meet her grandchildren before she dies and it’s bad enough that I never see my baby boy as it is.

It’s no pressure(ˈpreSHər), dear, but if you were to get pregnant(ˈpregnənt) it would be the perfect time to move back here. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to spend more time with your family?

https://www.instantmonologues.com/preview/Family

Do not go gentle(ˈjentl) into that good night

By Dylan(dēlən) Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave(rāv) at close of day;
Rage(rāj), rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise(wīz) men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning(ˈlītniNG) they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave(wāv) by, crying how bright(brīt)
Their frail(frāl) deeds might have danced in a green bay(bā),
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved(grēv) it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave(grāv,ˈgräˌvā) men, near death, who see with blinding(blīnd) sight(sīt)
Blind eyes could blaze(blāz) like meteors(-ēˌôr,ˈmētēər) and be gay(gā),
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height(hīt),
Curse(kərs), bless(bles), me now with your fierce(fi(ə)rs) tears(te(ə)r,ti(ə)r), I pray(prā).
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night

Apple wants to know your heart rate. For science(ˈsīəns).

By Hayley(hilē) Tsukayama

Apple’s trying out something entirely(enˈtīrlē) new starting Thursday(-dē,ˈTHərzdā): a medical(ˈmedikəl) study.

The company has released(riˈlēs) a new app that will use the Apple Watch’s heart-rate monitor to check for irregular(iˈregyələr) heart rates as part of a study it’s running with Stanford University(ˌyo͞onəˈvərsətē). While others have used Apple’s software and devices in medical studies, this is the first time that it’s actually sponsored(ˈspänsər) one itself. The move is another sign(sīn) that Apple is moving deeper into the health space.

“Working alongside the medical community, not only can we inform people of certain(ˈsərtn) health conditions, we also hope to advance(ədˈvans) discoveries(disˈkəvərē) in heart science,” said Apple chief(CHēf) operating officer Jeff Williams, in a statement.

Health and fitness(ˈfitnis) have been a key focus for Apple, especially(iˈspeSHəlē) since launching the Apple Watch two years ago. That has allowed the company to tap the $3 billion health care market and, analysts(ˈanl-ist) say, find new audiences(ˈôdēəns) for its products and services. Apple already employs(emˈploi) a small staff(staf) of medical professionals(prəˈfeSHənl) to develop its health products, and it is reportedly(riˈpôrtədlē) working on a diabetes(-tis,ˌdīəˈbētēz) glucose(ˈglo͞okōs)-monitoring device(diˈvīs) that won’t pierce(pi(ə)rs) the skin. It’s also worked with hospitals to include more of its tech in patients’(ˈpāSHənt) rooms.

The new study takes all of that a step further: Now Apple itself will be running a study and submitting(səbˈmit) data to the Food and Drug(drəg) Administration(ədˌminəˈstrāSHən). The heart-rate researcher will look specifically(spəˈsifik) at atrial(ā) fibrillation — or afib — which refers to an irregular heart rate and is a leading cause(kôz) of stroke(strōk) and other heart conditions. The condition kills around 130,000 people per year, according to estimates(e) from the Centers for Disease(diˈzēz) Control and Prevention(priˈvenCHən).

Users have to be over the age of 22 if they want to participate(pärˈtisəˌpāt) in the study. If the app detects(diˈtekt) an irregular heartbeat, it will notify that person on the Watch and iPhone. From there, he or she may opt(äpt) to see a doctor online, for a free consult(kənˈsəlt) on their health. Apple and Stanford are partnering(ˈpärtnər) with Boston(ˈbôstən) firm American(əˈmerikən) Well to provide those consults.

…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/11/30/apple-wants-to-know-your-heart-rate-for-science/

Badlands(ˈbadˌlandz)

By Christina Wood Martinez(märˈtēnez)

We wake up in the badlands when the sun begins to rise(rīz). It was a mistake to keep walking in the dark last night. Every pathway the same, we could have walked in a hundred(ˈhəndrid) circles. We put our hands on the ravine(rəˈvēn) walls and used the planets(ˈplanit) and the stars to orient(ˈôrēˌənt) ourselves. Walk south. We said it, “South, south, south, please, south.” But the planets and the stars, they shifted themselves. Venus(ˈvēnəs), the North Star, Orion’s(əˈrīən) Belt(belt), they hung(həNG) themselves in different places each time we looked up. The moon set and the ravine walls became black as the sky and the stars were so bright and close we felt as though we were wading(wād) through the dark matter the universe(ˈyo͞onəˌvərs) is made of. We had to lie down, we had to sleep.

——

Which way did we come from? Our footprints point in different directions up and down the wash(wäSH,wôSH). Lines rake(rāk) along both faces of the walls—our fingers are raw with cuts. There’s nothing to do but walk, the badlands so narrow(ˈnarō) sometimes we can hardly fit through. Thin(THin) ravines lead to wide washes with pale(pāl), dry trees that look like puffs(pəf) of smoke. I take my shirt off and wrap(rap) it around my head to keep the sun off. My feet follow behind Sarah’s(ˈse(ə)rə). In the deep sand(sand), it’s easier to walk in footprints. When she gets tired, we switch places and she walks behind me. When I get tired, we switch places and I walk behind her. The sand glows(glō) white. Steps stop being motions, just sounds. Foot after foot hushing(həSH) the sand.

…
http://www.vqronline.org/fiction/2017/10/badlands

How to Make (and Keep) a New Year’s Resolution(ˌrezəˈlo͞oSHən)

By Jen A. Miller(ˈmilər)

Pick the Right Resolution

You’ll give yourself your best shot(SHät) at success if you set a goal(gōl) that’s doable(ˈdo͞oəbəl) — and meaningful too.

According to the time management(ˈmanijmənt) firm FranklinCovey(ˈkəvē), one third of resolutioners don’t make it past the end of January(ˈjanyo͞oˌerē).

A lot of these resolutions fail because they’re not the right resolutions. And a resolution may be wrong for one of three main reasons:

It’s a resolution created based on what someone else (or society(səˈsīətē)) is telling you to change.

It’s too vague(vāg).

You don’t have a realistic(ˌrēəˈlistik) plan for achieving your resolution.

Your goals should be smart — and SMART. That’s an acronym(ˈakrəˌnim) coined(koin) in the journal(ˈjərnl) Management Review in 1981 for specific(spəˈsifik), measurable(ˈmeZH(ə)rəbəl), achievable, relevant(ˈreləvənt) and time-bound. It may work for management, but it can also work in setting your resolutions, too.

Specific. Your resolution should be absolutely(ˌabsəˈlo͞otlē) clear. “Making a concrete goal is really important rather than just vaguely(ˈvāglē) saying ‘I want to lose(lo͞oz) weight.’ You want to have a goal: How much weight do you want to lose and at what time interval(ˈintərvəl)?”

…

Measurable. This may seem obvious(ˈäbvēəs) if your goal is a fitness(ˈfitnis) or weight(wāt) loss(läs,lôs) related(riˈlātid) one, but it’s also important if you’re trying to cut back on something, too. If, for example, you want to stop biting your nails(nāl), take pictures of your nails over time so you can track your progress in how those nails grow back out…

…

Achievable. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have big stretch(streCH) goals. But trying to take too big a step(step) too fast can leave you frustrated(ˈfrəsˌtrātid), or affect other areas(ˈe(ə)rēə) of your life to the point that your resolution takes over your life — and both you and your friends and family(ˈfam(ə)lē) flail(flāl). So, for example, resolving(-ˈzôlv,riˈzälv) to save enough(iˈnəf) money to retire(riˈtīr) in five years when you’re 30 years old is probably not realistic, but saving an extra(ˈekstrə) $100 a month may be.

…

Relevant(ˈreləvənt). Is this a goal that really matters to you, and are you making it for the right reasons?

…

Time-bound. Like “achievable,” the timeline toward reaching your goal should be realistic, too. That means giving yourself enough time to do it with lots of smaller intermediate(ˌintərˈmēdē-it) goals set up along the way.

…

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/resolution-ideas

The Simplicity(simˈplisitē) Cycle(ˈsīkəl): Returning to Paring(pe(ə)r) Down to Find Your True Needs

By Leo Babauta

Simplifying(ˈsimpləˌfī) your life isn’t a single project that you can finish and be done with — it’s actually a cycle.

At least, that’s what I’ve found in my decade(ˈdekād) plus of simple living … I’ve downsized numerous(ˈn(y)o͞om(ə)rəs) times, in all areas of my life, and I keep finding myself coming back to the process(prəˈses,ˈpräsəs,ˈpräˌses,ˈprō-) of simplifying.

The Simplicity Cycle goes something like this (it’s a little different each time):

Inspiration(ˌinspəˈrāSHən) phase(fāz): You find something that sparks an interest, and you start exploring it (reading about a new topic, diving(ˈdīviNG) into learning a new subject, exploring a new activity or hobby(ˈhäbē), creating a new project or venture(ˈvenCHər), etc.(et ˈsetərə,ˈsetrə)). This is the inspiration phase.

Addition(əˈdiSHən) phase: This leads you to more complexity(kəmˈpleksitē), as you explore, buy things, read more and more, find new inspirations and ideas(īˈdēə). This is the addition phase.

Contemplation(ˌkäntəmˈplāSHən) phase: At some point, you might pause(pôz) to consider the bigger picture of what you’re doing. Is this the best way? Is this really important? If it is, what’s the most essential(iˈsenCHəl) part of it? Can you pare down? Many people skip this phase (and the next) and just keep doing the first two phases.

Paring Down phase: If you decided that you want to pare down, this is where you start to let go of things. You figure(ˈfigyər) out what’s essential to what you have been doing and learning, and if you don’t scrap(skrap) the entire(enˈtīr) thing completely(kəmˈplētlē) (which can happen), you might just keep a few key things. For example, if you start learning about chess(CHes), you might buy a set (or two) and a bunch(bənCH) of books and apps and go on a bunch of websites. But in the paring down phase, you might decide that chess isn’t important enough to keep in your life, or if it is, you only need one chess set, two really key books, and one website or app. The rest you let go of. Again, many people skip this step.

If you’re into simplifying and figuring out what’s essential, you’ll do the last two steps. If you’re like most people, you’ll just keep doing one and two, which leads to a growing amount of clutter(ˈklətər) and complexity(kəmˈpleksitē).

…
https://zenhabits.net/cycle/